Strip Tillage Systems Research Articles

Integrating cover crops and organic amendments to mitigate the limitations of tillage on soil health and cotton productivity

AbstractVarious tillage systems have limitations on soil health, such as the degradation of soil structure and organic matter under conventional tillage (CT) systems, as well as short‐term soil compaction in conservation tillage systems. A 3‐year field experiment was established to evaluate the integration of cover crop (CC) and organic amendments (OAs) into CT and strip tillage (ST) systems, and their impact on soil properties and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) productivity. The CC was cereal rye (Secale cereale), and the combined application of animal manure and biochar constituted the OA. In the third year, differences in soil compaction between the CT and ST systems were observed when the measurements were made after tillage. Moreover, integrating CC and OA under the CT and ST systems increased the soil depth to compaction zones. Soil compaction was observed at 27.5‐cm depth under CT, at 30‐cm depth under CT integrated with CC and OA, at 10‐cm depth under ST, and at 15‐cm depth under ST integrated with CC and OA, using 2 MPa as the threshold. In general, the integration of CC and OA tended to increase soil respiration, organic matter, and available nutrients, but the effects were not consistent across years and soil depth. Despite differences in the various soil health properties, the management systems had minimum impact on cotton productivity and fiber quality, indicating the ST was effective in preparing the seedbed. Moreover, the differences in soil properties were not at yield‐limiting levels within 3 years of the study.

Comparative Analysis of Drought Effects on the Soil Moisture Level and Penetration Resistance in Conventional and Non-Conventional Tillage Systems in Maize Production

The period of extreme weather anomalies in recent years has challenged farmers, and this has encouraged greater adaptability in farming practices. In the last decade, conventional tillage systems have been complemented by more biologically based cropping systems. The research evaluated the impact of drought on soil physical parameters in maize production by testing different conventional and non-conventional tillage systems to ensure optimal soil physical parameters. In the analysis of the prevailing weather conditions, rainfall values were divided into two parts, the pre-growing season and the growing season. We studied different climatic seasons. In 2021, the soil moisture content in the upper shallow 15 cm soil layer during the sowing period in April in the case of conventional tillage was significantly lower than in reduced tillage, conservation tillage and strip tillage. The most significant difference was measured between conventional and conservation tillage, with a difference of 11.25 v/v%. The 2022 crop year was extremely dry. In June, the highest moisture value in the soil was measured in the case of strip tillage with a value of 21.64 v/v%, which was more than 60% higher than in the case of conventional and conservation tillage. In conventional tillage, a very pronounced compacted layer was observed in the lower part of the ploughed layer. This zone reached a compaction of 6.9 MPa between 28 and 34 cm, which is agronomically harmful. No compacted soil layer was found in the experiment site under conservation tillage. In the severe drought year of 2022, only the strip-till system provided the proper water management conditions for the maize stand.

The Effects of Tillage Systems on the Management of Agronomic Factors in Winter Oilseed Rape Cultivation: A Case Study in North-Eastern Poland

The aim of this study was to analyze agronomic management in the production of winter oilseed rape (WOR) in different tillage systems. The field experiment (Poland, 2016–2019) had a 35–1 fractional factorial design with two replications, where five fixed factors were tested at three levels. The experimental factors were as follows. A—tillage: (A0) strip-till, (A1) low-till, (A2) conventional tillage; B—weed control: (B0) pre-emergent, (B1) foliar, (B2) sequential; C—growth regulation: (C0) none, (C1) in fall, (C2)—in fall and spring; D—rate of spring nitrogen (N) fertilizer: (D0) 160, (D1) 200, (D2) 240 kg ha−1; E—rate of spring sulfur (S) fertilizer: (E0) 0, (E1) 40, (E2) 80 kg ha−1. Seed yields were the highest in the strip-till system (5.95 Mg ha−1). The effectiveness of weed control methods varied across different tillage systems. Foliar herbicides exerted the highest yield-forming effect in the strip-till system, pre-emergent and sequential herbicides were most effective in the low-till system, and pre-emergent herbicides were most effective in the conventional tillage system. Seed yields increased up to the N rate of 200 kg ha−1. The highest N rate of 240 kg ha−1 was justified only when S was applied in spring. Sulfur significantly increased seed yields (by 17%). The results of the study indicate that low-till and strip-till systems can be viable alternatives to the conventional tillage system in WOR production.

УДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ ТЕХНІКО-ТЕХНОЛОГІЧНИХ РІШЕНЬ СМУГОВОГО ОБРОБІТКУ ГРУНТУ

The article presents the results of studies of the strip tillage system and crop sowing in the three-field crop rotation “corn-corn-soybean”, the principles of the technological process have been formed, the initial requirements for the parameters of the strips, the quality of sowing crops in the crop rotation (corn and soybeans) have been prepared, technical and technological methods have been improved the solution of sowing in strips with a significant content of plant residues and the technical and economic advantages of strip tillage are substantiated. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the expediency, to improve the technical and technological solutions and methods of implementation of the strip tillage technology in short-rotation grain crop rotation, and to determine their effectiveness. Methods and materials. The study of the effectiveness of strip tillage was carried out on the short-rotational crop rotation “corn-corn-soybean”, with a total area of 21 hectares at the scientific research ground of L. Pogorilyy UkrNDIPVT. Agricultural machinery is generally accepted for the zone of the right-bank forest-steppe, except for the studied factors: A - tillage; B – mineral fertilizers; C is a predecessor culture. Field experiments, observations, and records were carried out according to the methods of B. Dospehov and V. Yeshchenko. The «Belarus MTZ 1025» tractor and the 4-row «STA-4» unit were used to form the strips, which allows for the arrangement of sections, their movement along the beam of the frame for cutting strips with a row spacing of 70 cm and 90 cm and applying fertilizers to each strip. Corn was sown with a row spacing of 70 cm along the path, and soybeans (with a row spacing of 45 cm) were sown on the sides of the deep loosener pass line with a step of 90 cm. Results. The short-rotation 3-field crop rotation “corn-corn-soybean” provides an increase in productivity with a narrow set of crops with a wide-row sowing method, which are combined in the crop rotation as good predecessors and belong to different taxonomic groups. The effectiveness of the proposed technical-technological solutions of strip tillage and sowing compared to traditional technology is determined by the reduction of used resources due to the smaller number of technological operations, fuel consumption, and increased productivity. Indicators of the structure of the biological yield of corn proved the advantage of strip cultivation over plowing: grain yield is higher by 17-21% (depending on the year). It is substantiated that the design parameters of the unit for forming strips should ensure the straightness of their cutting at a sufficient working speed and the preservation of unloosened strips for moving (without slipping) the wheels of the traction tractor; the seeder must ensure high-quality sowing of seeds on backgrounds with a large content of plant residues, the technological ability of conversion to the required width of rows, which is the basis for improving the progressive direction of growing corn and soybeans in short-rotation crop rotation. Conclusions. Grounded prospects for the implementation of strip tillage technology in short-rotation crop rotation and the feasibility of its implementation in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine using the example of corn and soybeans. Emphasis is placed on the sources of efficiency and the main recommendations for machine complexes for resource-saving technologies for growing grain crops in small and medium-sized farms are outlined. Keywords: crop short-rotation, strip tillage, technical and technological solutions, agricultural machines, soybean, corn, productivity, crop yield.

ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF SOYBEAN PRODUCTION DEPENDING ON SOIL TILLAGE SYSTEM

The aim of the study was to evaluate the economic efficiency of soybean cultivars at different soil tillage system (ploughing method, reduced tillage, strip tillage). The study was based on the results of a five-year (2016-2020) field study, conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Kępa Puławy (farm in Osiny), belonging to the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Puławy. In the scheme of trial two cultivars of soybean: Aldana (000 – early) and Merlin (00-mid-early) were used. The strip-till system brought the highest value of harvested soybean seeds of Merlin cultivar – 6,262 PLN/ha (mean in 2016-2020). The high value was also obtained under full ploughing system (6,251 PLN/ha). The highest profitability of soybean cultivation determined based relation production value of seeds to direct cost was obtained under strip-tillage system (mean for two cultivars – 1.68). In direct cost structure the highest percentage had seeds material cost. The gross margin was determined as an indicator of economic efficiency. The economic effectiveness of cultivation of two soybean cultivars was evaluated from the perspective of utilizing the basic factors of production – land. Analysis showed that the highest level of gross margin determined on based the difference of production seeds value, direct cost and indirect cost was obtained in soybean cultivation under strip-tillage system. The profitability index was also determined as the relation of production value of soybean seeds to direct costs. The level of the gross margin was more impacted by the level of the obtained yield and the cost of agrotechnical treatments than by the level of other direct costs.

Root growth, root senescence and root system architecture in maize under conservative strip tillage system

Root growth, root senescence and root system architecture in maize under conservative strip tillage system

The Effects of Agronomic Management in Different Tillage Systems on the Fall Growth of Winter Oilseed Rape

The article presents the results of a three-year study, which analyzed agronomic management in the production of winter oilseed rape (WOSR) in different tillage systems. The effects of weed control and growth regulation in fall on the number of rosette leaves, epicotyl length, root collar diameter, taproot length, rosette weight, root weight, and the overwintering success of WOSR plants in different tillage systems were determined in the study. A field experiment was conducted at the University’s Agricultural Experiment Station in Bałcyny in north-eastern Poland in three growing seasons (2016/2017–2018/2019). The experiment had a mixed 21 × 32 factorial design with two replications, where one factor was evaluated at two levels, and two factors were evaluated at three levels. The experimental factors were: A—tillage: (A0) strip-till, (A1) low-till, and (A2) conventional tillage; B—weed control: (B0) pre-emergent, (B1) foliar, and (B2) sequential; C—growth regulation: (C0) none and (C1) in fall. Winter oilseed rape plants developed rosettes with the optimal morphometric parameters in the strip-till system. Sequential and foliar application of herbicides decreased the dry matter (DM) content of leaf rosettes (by approx. 18%). The application of the growth regulator in BBCH stages 14–15 increased taproot length by 3%.

Winter Oilseed Rape: Agronomic Management in Different Tillage Systems and Seed Quality

A three-year study was conducted to analyze agronomic management in the production of winter oilseed rape (WOSR) under different tillage systems. A field experiment was conducted at the University’s Agricultural Experiment Station in Bałcyny (north-eastern Poland), in three growing seasons (2016/2017, 2017/2018, and 2018/2019). The experiment had a 35–2 resolution III fractional factorial design with five fixed factors that were tested at three levels of intensity. The experimental factors were: A—tillage: (A0) strip-till, (A1) low-till, (A2) conventional tillage; B—weed control: (B0) pre-emergent, (B1) foliar, (B2) sequential; C—growth regulation: (C0) none, (C1) in fall, (C2)—in fall and spring; D—rate of nitrogen (N) fertilizer applied in spring: (D0) 160, (D1) 200, (D2) 240 kg ha−1; and E—rate of sulfur (S) fertilizer applied in spring: (E0) 0, (E1) 40, (E2) 80 kg ha−1. The crude fat (CF) content of WOSR seeds was highest in the strip-till system (498 g kg−1 dry matter, DM), and the total protein (TP) content of seeds was highest (196 g kg−1 DM) in low-till and conventional tillage systems. The content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was higher in seeds harvested from strip-till and low-till systems than from the conventional tillage system. The seeds of WOSR plants grown in the conventional tillage system accumulated more (by 0.4%) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and less (by 0.5–0.6%) monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). An increase in the N rate from 160–200 to 240 kg ha−1 decreased the CF content (495 vs. 484 g kg−1 DM) and increased the TP content of seeds (191 vs. 199 g kg−1 DM). Sulfur fertilization induced a 34% increase in glucosinolate (GLS) concentrations in WOSR seeds, mainly by enhancing the biosynthesis of alkenyl GLS (by 39%).

Regulation of maize growth, nutrient accumulation and remobilization in relation to yield formation under strip-till system

ABSTRACT A two-year field experiment was conducted to elucidate the adaptive growth mechanism of maize under strip-till (ST) compared with conventional-till (CT). The biomass accumulation of ST plants was significantly lower than CT until V14 (14th leaf), but restored thereafter with one below-ear-node leaf reduced. At silking, the accumulation of nitrogen (N) was reduced by 8.3–10.7% compared to CT. During post-silking, vegetative-N remobilization was reduced by 20.4%, post-silking N uptake increased by 33.9% in ST compared to CT. Leaf senescence was delayed and more green leaf area at physiological maturity in ST. It is concluded that ST plants have the mechanism of ‘Recovery Growth Adaptation’ to get the similar yield as in CT plants: (1) facilitating growth rate at around V14 when the soil temperature was greatly improved to stabilize ear growth and grain number; (2) getting to silking the same time as in CT plants, so as to ensure the duration of grain filling; (3) increasing post-silking N uptake to fulfill the demand of grain development and reduce leaf N remobilization, so as to maintain leaf function and increase thousand-grain weight, which compensate for the loss of grain number per ear.

Deep tilling and localized liming improve soil chemical fertility and sugarcane yield in clayey soils

The selection of an appropriate soil tillage system for improving yields and longevity is an important decision in sugarcane cultivation. In the present study, the effects of different soil tillage systems and methods of applying lime on sugarcane stalk and sugar yield performance as well as soil fertility parameters were evaluated throughout the sugarcane crop cycle. The experiments were established in two locations in April 2015 and conducted until August 2019, corresponding to a total of 4 growing seasons. A field study with a randomized block design was established with four replicates considering 4 treatments: conventional soil tillage system (CT), deep strip-tillage system (DT) and modified deep strip-tillage system (MDT), all with the same lime rate; and a standard treatment (control, CT without liming). Immediately after harvesting plant cane (18 months (mo) after planting), first ratoon (30 mo after planting), second ratoon (42 mo after planting) and third ratoon (54 mo after planting), soil samples were collected from a depth of 0.0–1.00 m, stratified every 0.2 m. Leaf material was sampled during the period of full vegetative growth. Analyses of soil chemical fertility, leaf concentrations of elements, and sugarcane yield components were performed. MDT was found to correct soil acidity most efficiently, mainly due to the positioning of the lime application. Under high aluminum saturation (AS), especially in deeper layers, deep lime placement was more effective and resulted in the best distributions of calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+), the highest base saturation (BS) and the lowest AS compared with the other treatments. Lime application was more important than the tillage system for improving the sucrose concertation and total recoverable sugar (TRS), whereas the tillage system affected the stalk yield and, consequently, the yield of sugar. Compared with DT and CT, the average stalk yield was 4.1% and 9.4% higher, respectively, under MDT at Macatuba and 6.3% and 15.3%, higher, respectively, under MDT at Piraju. Similarly, MDT improved average sugar yield by 3.7% and 10.4% at Macatuba and 6.1% and 16.3% at Piraju. Overall, long-term assessments, which are important for semi-perennial crops like sugarcane, showed that the both deep strip-tillage were most effective.

Assessment of energy saving and GHG reduction of winter oilseed rape production using sustainable strip tillage and direct sowing in three tillage technologies

GHG emissions, diesel fuel, material and working time costs are critical parameters in crop production that affect the environment and crop cultivation costs. The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of tillage technologies of different intensities and different sustainable sowing systems on the environment, working time, fuel, and energy efficiency. The studies were performed with winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), which was grown using three tillage technologies: deep ploughing (DP), stubble cultivation (SC) and no-tillage (NT), and using two sustainable sowing systems: strip tillage (ST) and direct sowing (DS). The production of winter oilseed rape was the least harmful to the environment when using NT technology, where GHG emissions were about 21.2% lower compared to DP technology. The main negative impacts on the environment were GHG emissions from agricultural machinery, diesel, and nitrogen fertilizers. The highest yield (3935 kg ha−1) and the best energy efficiency ratio (7.44) were achieved by shallow stubble cultivation using a combination of strip tillage and sowing system. The conclusion of this research is that successful combination of sustainable tillage technologies and sowing systems can ensure high productivity of winter oilseed rape, as well as good energy efficiency with significantly cleaner production of crops.

Effectiveness of deep lime placement and tillage systems on aluminum fractions and soil chemical attributes in sugarcane cultivation

Combining deep soil tillage systems with lime application is a potential strategy for improving the sugarcane production in acidic soils. The authors evaluated the influence of tillage systems and lime application on sugarcane performance and soil attributes, including acidity. A field study in a clayey-textured Rhodic Hapludox soil was conducted with sugarcane for two growing seasons utilizing a 3 × 2 factorial scheme comprising three soil tillage systems with and without lime: conventional soil tillage system (CT), deep strip-tillage system (DT) and modified deep strip-tillage system (MDT). The soil tillage systems differed in the depth of soil disturbance and/or lime positioning. In addition to sugarcane stalk and sugar yields, pH, potential acidity (Pac), soil organic carbon (SOC), solid-phase and soil-solution calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), the percentage distribution of exchangeable (%Alex) and non-exchangeable aluminum (%Alne) in the solid phase, and total monomeric (%TM-Al) in soil water extracts were analyzed and determined. The positioning of lime by the different tillage systems influenced the distribution of the Al fractions. TM-Al existed exclusively as organic monomeric Al (OM-Al) and showed little influence from treatments. In contrast, the distribution of Alex and Alne were highly influenced by lime and tillage system and varied according to the tillage efficiency of soil amendment. Soil chemical attributes and yield parameters were also influenced by the treatments in both growing seasons, highlighting the residual effect of liming. The soil chemical attributes influenced the Al fractions. Soil pH and exchangeable and soluble calcium (Caex and Cas) and magnesium (Mgex and Mgs) explained the variation of %Alne. Pac correlated with %Alex, whereas SOC explained the variation of %TM-Al. In general, the sucrose concentration, total recoverable sugar and stalk and sugar yields were increased by lime addition in plant cane and by lime addition and tillage systems in second ratoon. The stalk yield was highest in MDT, whereas the sugar yield was highest in both deep tillage systems.

Combined tillage with elements of Strip-till technology for maize in the Ciscaucasian zone

Relevance. The combined method of the main tillage, using certain methods of influence on the cultivated layer, forms a certain soil density. During the growing season of corn for grain, this indicator changes depending on the seasonal soil moisture and the intensity of the development of the root system of the plant, which is ultimately related to the yield of the crop. Material and method. The objects of research are two systems of basic tillage for corn for grain according to the predecessor winter wheat in the zone of unstable moisture of the Stavropol Territory using a dump and a combined method of basic tillage with elements of Strip-till technology. Soil: southern calcareous chernozem, slightly humus. The functional dependence of soil density on the supply of productive moisture and the intensity of development of the root system of grain corn was established by the method of the theory of dimensions. The method of fractal geometry was used to determine the degree of filling the soil space with root systems of grain corn under various systems of basic tillage.Results and Conclusions. It was found that the density of the soil is in direct functional dependence on the supply of productive moisture in the cultivated soil layer and the intensity of development of plant roots. The soil density during the seeding and flowering periods is higher by the Strip-till technology in comparison with the traditional one on average over the years by 0.02 g / cm3 and 0.03 g / cm3, respectively, and the moisture reserve in the spring period with Strip-till is 12 mm. The intensity of development of the root system according to the indicator D with the Strip-till system (1.58) by 0.31 units, more than with recommended processing (D = 1.27). The yield of corn for grain using the Strip-till technology is on average 0.22 t / g higher than with the recommended one, at a lower cost by 2395 rubles / ha.

Requirement of nitrogen for wheat-mungbean cropping sequence under strip tillage system at two residue retention levels

Requirement of nitrogen for wheat-mungbean cropping sequence under strip tillage system at two residue retention levels

РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЯ ВЛИЯНИЯ ПАРАМЕТРОВ ПОЛОСОВОЙ ОБРАБОТКИ ПОЧВЫ НА УРОЖАЙНОСТЬ ПРОПАШНЫХ КУЛЬТУР

The article presents materials on the choice of the optimal combination of technical parameters of a combined tillage unit for short-rotation cultivation of row crops with the introduction of nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers, taking into account their effect on yield at the preliminary stage of development and implementation of the Strip-Till system using elements of mathematical modeling. The aim of the research was to optimize the values of agrotechnical parameters of strip tillage with simultaneous application of fertilizers obtained as a result of information retrieval. The work focuses on the identification and computer optimization of operational and technical parameters that are significant from the point of view of the impact on yield. The functional dependences of sunflower yield on the depth of soil cultivation, fuel consumption, unit productivity, dose and depth of fertilization are given; For clarity, graphic interpretations of the models are combined with gradient vectors indicating the optimum points. An analysis of the magnitude and significance of the coefficients of the regression equation shows that the key parameters that have a decisive effect on the yield are the depth of application and the dose of fertilization, the depth of tillage and fuel consumption. The impact on the productivity of the unit performance is negligible. The results of mathematical modeling by the gradient descent method are supposed to be used when assigning strip tillage modes and adjusting agrotechnical parameters during the modernization of combined tillage machines in relation to the conditions of dry farming.

Optimal design and setting of rotary strip-tiller blades to intensify dry season cropping in Asian wet clay soil conditions

Fine-textured clayey soils dominate Asian rice fields that are kept either fallow or cultivated with non-rice crops after harvest of monsoon rice. Use of seeding machinery compatible with the principles of conservation agriculture on such soils, however, has not been promising. Under these conditions – which predominate the population and poverty dense areas of coastal South Asia – such machinery fails to open a furrow or throws excessive soil out of the tilled furrow during strip-till seeding. This results in a poor seed coverage at planting jeopardizing crop establishment. In response, this soil bin study investigated strip-tillage blade designs and settings to optimize rotary strip-till system for wet clay soil conditions common in South Asian rice fields. Three designs of C type rotary blade (conventional, medium and straight) and two blade settings (four and six blades per row; 50 and 100 mm cutting widths) were tested at three blade operating depths (50, 75, and 100 mm) using a tillage test rig and a soil bin, and a high-speed camera to understand the processes of soil cutting, throwing, backfilling, and creation of furrow seedbed. The soil bin soil consisted of a wet sandy-clay-loam soil with a moisture content of 28.2% (85% of field capacity) and was compacted to the bulk density of 1440 kg m−3. Using the test rig, rotary speed of the blades was maintained at 480 rpm and forward speed at 0.4 m s−1. At four blades per row setting, all blades created high amounts of optimum clods (1–20 mm size). The conventional and medium blades threw too much soil out of the strip-tilled furrow while the straight blade created adequate backfill at 75 and 100 mm operating depths. At 6 blades per row setting, all blades produced high amounts of backfill at any depths, but the straight blade also produced the highest amounts of optimum clods and a uniform furrow. Considering machine and energy costs, blade performance, and the necessity of minimizing soil disturbance in strip-tillage, our study indicates that the use of straight blades (four blades per row) operated at a depth of 75 or 100 mm are more ideal. These specifications are likely to enhance strip-tillage stand establishment in fine-textured soils with high moisture contents, though further work is needed under actual field conditions to confirm suitability of the proposed strip-till system for crop establishment in currently fallowed as well as the intensively cropped lands of Asia.

Justification for the development of resource-saving technology and the production of the combined unit for strip tillage

The article presents material on an objective feasibility of using the technology and production of a unit for strip tillage at the preliminary stage of development and implementation of the Strip-Till system in the presence of a limited set of available parameters.

Post-Emergence Weed Control of Strip-Planted Wheat by Herbicides

Transformation of a wheat field from conventionally heavy tillage to stripplanting is beneficial considering soil health improvement and savings in cultivation cost. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at the experimental field of On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur during Rabi season of 2017-18 and 2018-19 to evaluate some available post-emergence herbicides for managing weeds in strip-planted wheat var. BARI Gom-30 and to find out the most effective post-emergence herbicide and its suitable rate for controlling weeds under strip tillage system. Three postemergence herbicides (ethoxysulfuron, carfentrazone-ethyl plus isoproturon and carfentrazone-ethyl) were tested at their label rate and double of the label rate and their performance were compared with two times manual weeded control treatment. The study revealed that application of ethoxysulfuron at label rate and double of the label rate was effective for grass weed control, but not for broadleaf weeds. Application of carfentrazone-ethyl plus isoproturon both at label rate and double of the label rate was effective to control all types of weeds. Moreover, the highest grain and straw yields were recorded from label rate application of carfentrazone-ethyl plus isoproturon and its double rate application was also offered similar results in case of grain and straw yields. However; considering undetermined herbicide residual issue and having adverse effect on wheat leaves and finally on yield, the study discourages double of the label rate application of carfentrazone-ethyl plus isoproturon for managing weeds in wheat under strip tillage system.
 Bangladesh Agron. J. 2020, 23(1): 91-99

The impact of the conservation tillage "maize into grass cover" on reducing the soil loss due to erosion

Maize (Zea mays L.) belongs among the most important agriculture crops all over the world. The conventional way of cultivating maize with wide row spacing does not have a soil conservation effect and significantly contributes to water erosion and surface run-off. In our research, we tested the soil conservation technology (strip-till into grass cover) which took place in 2016 and 2017 in the location of Central Bohemia. The impact of a strip-till system of maize into grass cover on reducing the soil loss due to erosion was verified on the area of 21 m<sup>2</sup> using a rainfall simulator. During the research, 70 measurements were realised. The strip-till was compared to fallow land, conventional cultivation and no-till methods. Profound differences were found in the soil loss between the treatments. There was a decrease in the soil loss of about 98% in the strip-till compared to the conventional cultivation. Moreover, the surface run-off was reduced by 79%. The ANCOVA (analysis of covariance) models of the log-transformed soil loss on the surface run-off and treatment were highly significant (P < 10<sup>–15</sup>). The measurement results clearly demonstrate the positive effect of the strip-till into the grass on the surface run-off and soil loss. This positive soil conservation effect was observed even in springtime, as well as the rest of the season. Using a grass cover for establishing the maize significantly contributes to the soil conservation on the land threatened by erosion and offers farmers a suitable way of farming when growing maize. Strip-tilling is a technology that has great potential in sustainable farming.

Classification of machines for strip technology of soil treatment

The classification of technical means for strip technology of soil treatment according to the Strip-till system is proposed. They are given the signs to merge them in groups according to the acquisition units, the frame design, technological performance, according to the type of tillage, the tillage method, as well as according to the technological purposes and design of the working body. Classification features are considered on the basis of the design of the domestic production ripper “AGRIVATOR”.